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FRIDAY I Focused on Our Community

Attorney Bill Waddell, a key leader in the state’s access to justice movement, was one of five national recipients of a 2017 American Bar Association Pro Bono Publico Award. The honor is given to individual lawyers and institutions in the legal profession that have demonstrated outstanding commitment to volunteer legal services for the poor and disadvantaged.

An ordinary birthday celebration might include dinner with family and friends, a candle-topped cake and maybe a gift or two. But Attorney Mike Moore is anything but ordinary.
When he began thinking about how he wanted to spend his 60th birthday, he decided against the traditional and choose to spend the day giving instead of getting.
On Sunday, June 25th Mike took his new bike, a recent birthday gift from his wife Jane, along the banks of the Arkansas River on a 120-mile ride where he raised more than $2,000 in donation and pledges for the Wolfe Street Foundation (WSF).

As with any great story, this one starts with a girl. Actually, this story starts with three girls. When Attorney Bill Waddell’s three daughters were in elementary school, Bill loved reading to them as many fathers do. Although story after story could be found about princess fairytales, animal adventures and even real-life heroes, he discovered that very few children’s books dealt with the law or social justice issues. It was important to Bill not only that his daughters learn these values, but also that they understand how Bill’s profession contributes to these values.

Attorney Blake D. Lewis gave a presentation to the business start-up class of Communities Unlimited at Phillips Community College in DeWitt on Tuesday, April 11. Blake's presentation focused on the various legal entities new small business owners might choose.
The presentation was part of the final six-part workshop by Communities Unlimited, a community development financial institution (CDFI) that assists small businesses develop and grow.